Waimakariri - Lake Kaniere

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WAIMAKARIRI - - LAKE KANIERE Christmas trip. down south involv- December 29th saw us tramping up ing Harmen, Whitehorn and Browning and over White River, slowly making passes, and led by Gary Lund. our way up Taipo Iti stream rocks After being dropped off the railcar all the way, over snow grass on to at Klondyke Corner we headed for Harmen Pass. Time for a brew before the nearest trees to shelter from rain going on to Whitehorn. Terrific views while we late lunch. Still raining, but from on Harmen, down into the the party was in high spirits so we at- Taipo, "and back into the Waimakariri tempted to cross the flooded Waimaka- Valley. The climb over Whitehorn not riri-no luck. Christmas Day and Box- difficult, in snow, hit slow and tiring ing Day were wet and we camped down and glad to reach .ne top and sit down in the public shelter not far from the for lunch. From here we sidled down main road. Mind you it was enjoyable rock slides opposite Cronin icefall to lazing around especially with ham, fresh head of Cronin River and rock hopped vegetables and Christmas pud with for hours in burning sun over real brandy on the menu. During the couple sharp rocks. 6.00 we camped on flats of fine spells we rigged up a clothes line about one hour from Park Morpeth of climbing rope and ice axes, and wan- Hut-our intended camp. The sun that dered over to study the river. That was evening was so painful on our sunburn when we noticed trampers over on the a fly was erected to give us some shade. other side-a for others, if you're on Next day had an eventful start, about this trip and "doier have time wasting ten minutes on our way after breaking for the river to drop, use sidle track camp Ron slipped and fell into the which starts over other side of Bealy freezing cold Cronin. Can't have taken Bridge. The weather cleared up after him long to warm 'cause the sun was that and we had terrific weather the rest so hot my ration "of chocolate melted of our trip. Saturday, after a meal of and lined my pack pocket. At Park semolina, ugh, enough said about that, Morpeth we stopped for a while then we crossed the river, without too much wandered up Wilferforce to base of difficuity. At foresty hut just below Browning, Pass for lunch. Miners trail Anti Crow we met a party of scouts up Pass is very clear and makes easy just about asleep on their feet after an climbing until the last 50 ft. or so early start from Klondyke Corner. A when we left trail and climbed up rock party of Wellington C.T.C's passed us and loose shingle onto top of Pass. Anand we met them again at Carrington. other terrific view down Wilberforce to From the Anti Crow we cut over a junction with Unknown River then hill and back onto the Waimakariri to ranges of barefaced peaks. Behind us sidle along it in beech forests with a Lake Browning, deep blue in the centre few tricky and treacherous waterfalls and becoming paler towards edges. Little and rocks. Arrived Carrington area waves of water lapping around edge - and spent night in forestry hut (4) and fantastic in such a barren setting of tents-good camp site but watch out rocks and short snow grass T could for Keas. Sunday morning Carrington cheerfully rave on for hours about this Peak showed itself at head of Waimaka- area, especially when the mist came riri Valley and set cameras clicking. down and everything was still and quiet, About 5 o'clock that morning Stan Icould imagine a Scottish piper coming undid his parcel and guess what over the hill and thru' the mist, or higha rifle. Darer and he went out shoot- land cattle grazing rave on. A most ing but, sad tale. wounded stag and ran enjoyable campsite. out of ammo. 10.00 a.m. rest of party Left late next morning in brilliant sunset out to look for stag. 2.00 p.m. shine for Harmen Hut (Pyramid) down scrambling up shingle slide. thrashing Arahura River didn't find any decent threugh bush, following a trail of blood greenstone. Stan was well ahead of us and one sighting of object in quest, we with rifle in hand but arrived back at camp for lunch without Tiare and Gary went out spotted the nothing. back of venison. After lunch Stan, Gary, Tiare and Joe Harmen Hut that evening but didn't see wandered up the Waimakariri, saw two any animals either so it would appear blue mountain ducks shooting down the area is pretty well shot out. About rapids. The lazier members of the trip the track from Browning to here, it's stayed back and slept. That day we o.k. until the Arahura Gorge a fair had five Auckland C.T.C.'s, two Hutt way down. We sidled above it pushing Valley's and the scouts in the same our way through holly and other shnrp area so it was rather crowded shrubs-painful on sunburnt legs-hen W.C.T.C's left early after mass for on to a real good track until the hut, then to get to the door it is passes. swamp work. Celebrated New Year's Eve here, that day breaking up, rocks and gathermost enjoyable-again Ron tripped into ing stone-great hobby if you don't river. If Ron hadn't got up next morn- have to carry your packs too far. Our ing at 5 o'clock and woken us with a last camp near civilisation about half brew I wouldn't have had any com- mile from a road and five miles from plaints. New Year's Day saw us over Lake Kaniere. The only time we really Styx Saddle down Styx River to grassy had trouble with sandflies was here. A flats and Reneta Hut-big hut. Ivan the good thought of Joe's a sandfly net a forestry chap-Russian we over the door of the tent and then you inhrd arrived shortly after we did. can havea peaceful night's sleep. He'd been out shooting and somehow in Gary, Bill and Joe left at 7.00 the a mix-up with a wounded deer had next morning to ring for a taxi to colgashed his leg rather badly. He was lect us and take us to Hokitika. Met on his way out to see a doctor so Gary up, with John Addison's party there. bound his wound up again and after After lunch and clean-up we headed an hour or so he was on his way. Tried for railway station in bridal taxis-one to find out how he was when we got to extreme to the other. After an after- Hokitika but nothing had been heard noon doing Hokitika pubs we tripped of him hope he's o.k. hack to Christchurch by railcar enter- Stan fell into a stinking bog! How faining and being entertained by a bridal about that? He and Gary were on party. A night in Hagley Hotel then their way back after an unsuccessful by iet back to Wellington. shoot and the 'swamp king' fell in. Thanks Gary for a terrific trip, you Left Grassy Flats next morning after certainly know how to organise fine a friendly aircraft swept low to give us weather and good company. Those on a wave, and scaring off Keas we were the trip, Gary Lund, Tiare Jackson, Joe trying to photograph. Again Ron came Pemberton, Bill Rice, Stan Boyd, Ron into the fore-he crashed into a tree Fayle, Lesley Yeoman and Hilarie Hamand wounded his nose. We spent hours monds. H.H.